Why are airplanes so goddamn scary? Im flying in a couple days?

Question

Please tell me why I shouldnt be scared... i just saw some internet news about airlines making all these cuts...the news lady even bi**hed about having to pay for soda on the plane...why cant we just pay more for our tickets? i realize taking from middle-income consumers and not the gas giants isnt the answer but man, for the time being things seem really unsafe to me. Im taking an 11 hour flight in a couple days and booooy am i scared.

can someone please tell me why airplanes are safe and why i should calm the **** down? even when i take 3X my tranquilizer prescription I flip out during take off. please help oh my god im so terrified but i kinda gotta go ive been avoiding this trip for over a year now..

Answer 1

The first answer is correct.

You probably WON'T have to pay for a soda on an 11-hour flight.

Some tips for long flights:

Check www.seatguru.com for seat suggestions.  I usually try to get a window seat on really long flights and gather some extra pillows & blankets to make a "bed" that I can lean against.  Call the airline and request a seat as early as allowed.

Consider getting a sleep mask (ex. www.mindfold.com) and some earplugs, which may help you sleep (they work for me). Luggage stores and airport shops also sell sleep masks.

I-Pods and portable game devices are great on planes, but the batteries won't last 11 hours.  Pack one or more books that you have started, or that are from an author you know.  It's really annoying to realize - too late - the book you brought for the flight isn't a good read.

Pack a complete change of clothes and basic toiletries in your carryon bag.  

Dress in comfortable clothes and shoes that are not too tight (or overly casual).  Your feet will swell during a long flight and tight clothes can make it harder to sleep.

I try to shower just before leaving to go to the airport.  It reduces the grungy feeling you get by the end of a long flight.

Get to the airport 2 full hours before departure so you don't have to stress.  

Tag all of your bags (inside and outside) with your name, e-mail address (but not your home address) and a USA phone number someone will answer.  The free tags from the check-in counter are fine.

You can take something to help you relax/sleep, but try it first.  Many meds can leave you groggy long after you need to be awake.  I just use aspirin.

Drink lots of water and juice:  The air in the cabin is very dry and causes dehydration.  Avoid too many drinks with caffeine (including colas & alcohol) as they can increase the dehydration.

Get up and stretch every few hours.

Try to awaken just before the "arrival meal" is served and use the bathroom to wash up.  You will feel a lot better, and there will be a long line for the bathrooms after the meal.

The time change can be a problem, and an 11-hour flight could result in a big difference from home. At your destination, try very hard to eat meals at local times and stay awake until local bedtime.  If you MUST take a nap then sleep for no more than 3 hours.  Falling asleep at 3:00pm may result in you waking up at Midnight - wide awake and unable to go back to sleep.

Hope you have a great trip!

Answer 2

wow guess what last week was my 1rst time in an airplane i was so scared that i was even crying before ive got inside and my mom said dont worry it wont be scary when you go up or down so i thought she was lying to me because ive never been in one soit was funny because i was crying because i didnt want to go inside so it was my turn to go inside and when i sat down in the chair the passangers told me to calm down and they told me here we go GUESS WHAT HAPPENED IT DIDNT FEEL BAD AT ALL i started laughing at my self because i thought it was going to ve scary but it wasnt it just felt like an elevator going up and down not bad not bad at all sweety    

dont worry about youre trip it will be fun when u arrive where ur going u wont eben reallysed how quickly and fun it was

SO GOOD LUCK

Answer 3

Wow.

I would advise you to think about what specifically scares you about flying, and try to address the issues individually.

It might help to learn more about aviation and airplanes - how they work and how everything has a backup system, the backup generally has a backup, etc.  Look up ETOPS (short version: plane is certified to be able to fly x minutes even with an engine out, and is not allowed to be more than x minutes from an airport big enough for that plane to land at).  Look up what the flaps, slats, ailerons, rudder, etc. do, so if you look out the window and see part of the wing moving, you'll understand why.

If you are afraid of a mid-air collision, teach yourself about how far airplanes have to stay from each other, both vertically and horizontally.  Read about the crash in the 70s over Shelby County, IN (flight was Cincy-Indy) and what changes have been made as a result to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Finally, look up car accident statistics, and you will realize that it makes much more sense to be terrified of driving to the airport, and breathe a big sigh of relief once you step onto the plane.